Cephalon/Chiron Myotrophin (IGF-1) shows 25% reduction in rate of ALS progression, company reports.
Executive Summary
CEPHALON/CHIRON MYOTROPHIN 8-POINT ALS SCORE DIFFERENCE FROM PLACEBO after nine months of therapy is significant in a Phase III study, Cephalon Senior-VP Michael Murphy, MD/PhD, reported June 10 at the World Federation of Neurology Committee on Motor Neuron Diseases in Talloires, France. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients receiving the highest dose of Myotrophin (somatomedin-C) had an average 18-point increase from baseline on the Appel ALS scale compared to a 26-point increase for placebo-treated patients. A 20-point change indicates a major functional change in the ability of Lou Gehrig's disease patients to care for themselves.